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For Immediate Release:
For Further Information:
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May 17, 2010

Office of The Attorney General
- Paula T. Dow, Attorney General
Division of Criminal Justice
- Stephen J. Taylor, Director
Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
- Riza Dagli, Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor

Media Inquiries-
609-292-4791
Citizen Inquiries-
609-292-4925

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Camden County Woman Charged With Illegally Obtaining Prescription Drugs and Committing Insurance Fraud

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TRENTON - Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that a Camden County woman has been indicted for allegedly calling in phony prescriptions for drugs to various pharmacies while she was employed at several different physicians’ offices.

According to Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Riza Dagli, Roberta Wells, 39, of Bellmawr, was charged with second-degree health care claims fraud, third-degree theft by deception, third-degree obtaining a controlled dangerous substance by fraud, and fourth-degree obtaining prescription legend drugs by fraud.

The state grand jury indictment returned Thursday, May 13, alleges that between Jan. 19, 2005 and June 9, 2008, Wells provided false and misleading information to various pharmacies, causing the pharmacies to bill Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield more than $13,000 for prescription drugs to which Wells was not entitled. Wells allegedly caused the pharmacies to fraudulently bill Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield for controlled dangerous substances and for legend drugs. It is alleged that, by creating the false impression that physicians had prescribed the various medications for her and/or members of her family, Wells fraudulently obtained the prescription medications as well as $3,950 in prescription benefits from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield.

An investigation by the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor determined that on more than 285 separate occasions, medicines were dispensed in Wells’ name or the name of her husband or children, without legitimate medical authorization.

Detective Kristi Procaccino and Deputy Attorney General Steven B. Farman were assigned to the investigation. Deputy Attorney General Farman presented the case to the state grand jury.

The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of $150,000, while third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in state prison and a criminal fine of $15,000. The third-degree crime of obtaining CDS by fraud carries a potential fine of up to $50,000. Fourth-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 18 months in state prison and a criminal fine of $10,000. In addition, Wells may face the imposition of civil insurance fraud fines.

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